Alice and Wonderland belong to Lewis Carroll. All characters and locations invented and added by Tim Burton belong to Tim Burton.

Always remember the Hatter

Prologue

A butler opened the big door for her and begged her to enter. She nodded shortly and entered the house of her parents. She for herself was a mother now, too. Her son was three years old and was now sleeping in her arms. She had come without her husband…like always. He never accompanied her when she was out in order to settle a matter.

She spotted a butler who was already on his way to greet her. "Welcome Misses Arlington. Your mother is already waiting for you." "Thank you Mister Edwards."

He led her to the master living room where her mother sat in silence drinking a tea. When Edwards opened the door she looked up smiling when she saw her daughter with her grandson Charles. "Margaret! It is so nice to see you both!" She raised and hugged her elder daughter and Charles who awoke. Misses Kingsley took her grandson in her arms and hugged him close ignoring his tries to free himself. When he surrendered she sat back on the couch and waited till Margaret took a seat on the couch in front of her.

"Well, why was it so urgent to come here? You know that I am giving a ball in two days and I have still enough to prepare on this occasion." "I know, I know my dear. But yesterday I received a letter from your sister!" "Alice?! Is everything okay with her? Is she still in China?" "Hush my dear." Misses Kingsley tried to calm her daughter. "Everything seems to be fine and she still resided in Shanghai while writing the letter but now she should not be there anymore. She wrote that she is going to be in London the 14th of May." "Oh my god, that is good news! But…" She thought a moment. "… the 14th of May is in two weeks! And we have a lot to prepare for her arrival. We have to invite people to welcome her home and…" Her mother interrupted her by raising her right hand.

"You are right but this is not the topic I want to discuss because I knew you would like to arrange such a festivity. I want to discuss about something different." Misses Kingsley stroke her grandson's head her eyes full of affection. "Alice was away for four and a half year. She is twenty-four by now and still unmarried. She might die as an old maid. And I am not willing to risk this. Maybe today all she thinks about is her business but soon she will notice that she cannot handle the company on her own because she is just a girl and Lord Ascot will soon wish for a male partner not an inexperienced young girl. She should lead a household, give birth to children and not travel around the world her head full of unrealistic dreams. A man would show her where she belongs. It is a pity that she has so much of her father in her."

"I understand your concerns very well but what shall we do about it?" Her mother smiled at her. "It is very easy. We spread the news of Alice arriving soon and just add the fact that she is looking for a husband after this long journey, a husband who is going to take over the business for her. When they hear of the welcome festivity you are giving they are going to attend the party only to get to know her. And I am going to make sure that she finds the right one. And soon I am going to have more sweet grandchildren like him."

She hugged Charles again but this time much tighter.